Ingot-stool sticker breaker



W. D. MARING Oct. 30, 1962 INGOT-STOOL STICKER BREAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001.. 13, 1960 IN V EN TOR. B axed/mg; p/j ,q t

Oct. 30, 1962 w. D. MARING 3,060,531

INGOT-STOOL STICKER BREAKER Filed Oct. 1:5, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I 0 INVENT R I BY M/Zenfi/Fmzk Ara r.

1962 w. D. MARING 3,060,531

INGOT-STOOL STICKER BREAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15, 1960 States nite This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for breaking stuck ingots loose from ingot stools and is particularly concerned with the construction and assembly of such an apparatus.

When casting ingots, the mold is placed on an ingot stool and after the cast metal has sufficiently cooled, the mold is removed by any suitable means or apparatus, leaving the ingot seated on the ingot stool and firmly adhered thereto. tions to break the ingot loose from the ingot stool by applying impact force on opposed sides of the ingot and near its upper extremity and then exerting force to urgethe ingot and the ingot stool in opposed directions to break the adhesion between the ingot and the ingot stool. The now separated ingot and ingot stool then are conveyed as a unit away from the apparatus which is conditioned for repeat operation.

More specifically, the present apparatus has conveying means associated with it for advancing stuck ingots into position to be acted upon by the apparatus and to then carry the unstuck ingots from the apparatus. The apparatus includes a rugged frame structure supporting a pair of hydraulically actuated toggle assemblies between which an ingot stool, and the ingot stuck thereon, is conveyed. These assemblies are of a nature which when operated to release an ingot include elements which are initially carried into firm seating engagement with the ingot stool. Subsequently, the ingot is impacted by other elements of said toggle assemblies, preferably on dia metrically opposed sides, and the toggle means of said assemblies is actuated to impart relative movement, in opposed directions, of the stool engaging elements and the ingot engaging elements so as to break the ingot loose from the ingot stool. The hydraulic system incorporated in the apparatus includes a multiplicity of hydraulic motors such as piston-cylinder assemblies, suitably connected with a source of hydraulic pressure through a system of feed and exhaust conduits having valve control means therein to selectively control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said motors for actuating the toggle mechanism.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novelly constructed apparatus for breaking stuck ingots loose from ingot stools.

Another object is to provide a novel toggle mechanism for actuating means for breaking an ingot loose from the ingot stool.

Another object is to provide novel hydraulic means to actuate stool breaking mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novelly constructed stool breaking apparatus which is rugged in its construction, positive in its operation, not expensive or difiicult to manufacture or to maintain serviceable, and which is very efiicient in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a representative structure designed to carry out the various objects and advantages of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a representative structure embodying the features of the invention, showing it in a neutral position.

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1, showing the stool The apparatus hereindisclosed func-.

9' atent engaging parts in stool-ingot engaging position, and showing a portion of the frame and the ingot broken away.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the hydraulically operated apparatus disclosed for purposes of illustration, is supported in a rigid upstanding frame structure including uprights 11 and cross beams 12. The frame structure is disposed to bridge any conventional or other suitable conveyor means that is operable for successively advancing ingot stools with ingots stuck thereon into position tobe acted upon by the apparatus and to then carry the unstuck ingots and ingot stools out from such position. Although conveyor means of various kinds may be used, applicant has selected for purposes of disclosure, trackage 13 along which a series of ingot cars 14 (one shown) travel. The cars 14 are adapted to carry one ingot stool 15, having one or more ingots 16 adhered thereto and from which the mold has been previously removed.

The frame structure 1112 mounts a fluid supply tank 17 preferably arranged as shown at the upper end thereof and adjacent to one of the uprights 11. This tank is connected, as by conduit 18, to the low pressure side of a high pressure pump 19 driven by motor 21. The high pressure side of the pump is connected, as by meansof flow conduit 22, with the upper region of an intake manifold pipe 23 that is mounted on one of the uprights 11 and extends downwardly for a considerable distance where it is connected, as by flow conduits 24, 25, 26 and 27, to a series of two-way control valves 28, 29, 31 and 32, each of which is connected by flow conduits 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively, to a return manifold pipe 37 that parallels manifold pipe 23. A flow conduit 38 leading from the upper region of return manifold pipe 37 connects said manifold with the supply tank 17. By this arrangement a closed flow for the hydraulic fluid is provided between the valves and tank.

The hydraulic operated means and apparatus operable thereby upon selective manipulation of valves 28, '29, 31 and 32 is provided in two identical assemblies, both carried in the frame structure 1112, one on each side of conveyor trackage 13; consequently, the following description will, insofar as consistent with the general description, relate to one of said assemblies, it being understood that it is equally applicable to the other and that like numerals identify like parts in each.

Referring now to the hydraulically actuated apparatus on each side of the frame structure, said apparatus includes a plurality of vertically spaced hydraulic motors 4 comprised of cylinders 39, 41, 42 and 43, having pistons 44, 45, 46 and 47 respectively, operating therein with their respective piston rods 48, 49, 51 and 52 extending outwardly at one end thereof. The other or closed end of each cylinder 39, 41, and 42, is pivotally secured firmly on horizontal axes as at 53, 54 and 55 respectively, to frame upright 11, whereas cylinder 43 has its closed end pivotally secured, as at 56, to top cross beam 12 in substantial vertical alignment with pivots 53, 54 and 55. I

Fluid conduits 57, 58 connect opposite ends of both cylinders 39 with valve 28; whereas, fluid conduits 59,- 61 connect opposite ends of both cylinders 41 with valve 29. Similarly, flow conduits 62, 63 connect both cylinders 42 with valve 31 and like flow conduits 64, 65 connect-both cylinders 43 with valve 32. In this manner when a valve is moved into an open position the pistons in the cylinders connected with said valve are moved in one direction or the other to advance or retract the respective piston rods. All the valves 28, 29, 31 and 32 may be manually or automatically actuated.

Pivotally mounted on the free end of piston rod 51, as at 66, is a shoe 67 suitably formed to have surface abutment with a side edge and top margin of the ingot stool when in the position shown in FIG. 2. The free end of piston rod 48 carries a pad 68 that is pivotally mounted thereon, as at 69. This pad has a flat surface 71 formed with tooth-like projections 72 for a purpose to be explained presently. The pad 68 and shoe 67 are connected by a toggle-like structure comprised of links 73, 74, one pivotally connected at one end to shoe 67 and the other to pad 68, as at 75, 76, respectively. A pintle pin 77 connects the related ends of the togglelinks one to the other and to the free end of piston rod 49. During machine operation, the shoes 67 and pads .68 are carried toward and away from ingot stool 15 and ingot 16 thereon and are also raised and lowered.

Such raising and lowering of each toggle-link assembly is accomplished through reciprocation of piston rod 52 operating in cylinder 43. As shown, the free end of said piston rod 52 carries a roller 78 that rides between flanges 12a mounted on or integral with top cross beams 12, or along such other guideway as may be provided. A cable 79, secured at its upper end to the axle of said roller 78 is trained over a sheave 81 journalled at 82 on said top cross beams and extends downwardly to have its lower end secured to an adjustable link 83 carried by cylinder 39.

Opening of valve 32 will cause the piston rod 52 to beextended or retracted so as to thereby vary the angular position assumed by cylinder 39. Because of the articulate connection through toggle-link assembly 73, 74, the angular position of cylinders 41, 42 is likewise varied, thus altering the position of elevation of the shoe and pad associated with said cylinders.

Operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: When an ingot stool 15 carrying an adhered ingot 16 is moved into position to be acted upon, the machine parts are in substantially the positions shown in full lines in FIG. 1. In order to locate the shoes and pads in such spaced positions relative to the ingot, as shown, the valves 28, 29 and 31 have been positioned to admit fluid under pressure into the front ends of cylinders 39, 41 and 42 to retract their respective piston rods. At the same time, the valve 32 has been positioned to admit fluid under pressure into the rear or mounted end of cylinder 43 so as to extend its piston rod and draw cable 79 upwardly to elevate cylinders 39, 41 and 42 and the shoes and pads carried thereby, also as shown. The positions of valves 28, 29 and 31 are then reversed, but only into a partially open condition to admit fluid pressure into the mounted direction of the ingot to carry the shoes 67 toward the ingotstool 15, as best shown in broken lines in FIG. I. Said valves 28, 29 and 31 are now closed and valve 32 is repositioned to admit hydraulic fluid into the forward end of cylinder 43 to withdraw piston rod 52 and lower the toggle-link assembly so as to seat the shoe on the margins of stool 15, whereupon valve 32 is closed and valve 28 opened full to admit hydraulic fluid at maximum pressure into the rear or mounted end of cylinder 39 so as to drive its piston rod forwardly and impact the pads against the ingot and embed the pad projections 72 in said ingot. This impact jars the ingot relative to the stool and frequently causes initial separation of the bond between the ingot and stool. With valve 28 remaining in said open position as aforesaid, valves 29 and 31 are opened wide to admit hydraulic fluid at maximum pressure into the rear or mounted ends of cylinders 41 and 42. This holds the shoes 67 tightly against the stool during the time the toggle-link assembly is moved by piston rod 49 toward the ingot. The straightening of the toggle-link assembly imparts maximum force on the shoes and pads to force the pads 68 upwardly in a manner as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Such upward movement of pads 68 forces the ingot upwardly therewith thus breaking the bond between the ingot and stool. The parts then are returned to their initial withdrawn elevated position as described hereinabove, and the carriage 14 carrying the now separated stool and ingot is conveyed away from the apparatus and another bonded or stuck ingot is positioned therein for repeat operation.

It should be apparent that the toggle-link assembly, acting directly on the ingot and on the stool in a manner to force them apart under hydraulic pressure, creates a situation wherein the ingot is positively displaced upwardly relative to the stool by forces far in excess of that normally required to effect ingot separation with the result that the apparatus functions at a high degree of efliciency and at low cost.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment de scribed above and shown in the drawings is merely one of the many forms which the present invention may take in practice without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims which are to be interpreted as broadly as possible.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for breaking a stuck ingot loose from an ingot stool upon which it is seated, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a support structure, a source of pressurized fluid, like mechanisms one on each lateral side of the steel and ingot, said mechanisms each comprising a shoe to engage the stool and a pad to engage the ingot adjacent to the upper end thereof, a toggle-link assembly connecting said shoe and pad, a plurality of reversible fluid motors carried by the support structure, a first of said fluid motors mounting said shoe and operable to move the shoe into and out of engagement with the stool, a second of said fluid motors mounting said pad and operable to move the pad toward and away from the ingot, valve means operable to admit fluid to said first and second motors to move the shoe and pad into tight engagement with the stool and ingot respectively, a third fluid motor connected to the togglelink assembly to move the shoe and pad in opposite directions for breaking the ingot loose from the stool, said valve means being operable to reverse the operation of said motors to release said toggle assembly and move the shoe, toggle-link assembly and pad away from the stool and ingot, and means to elevate the shoe, togglelink assembly and pad relative to their stool and ingot engaging positions when they are positioned away from the stool and ingot.

2. An apparatus for breaking a stuck ingot loose from an ingot stool, said apparatus comprising, in combination, like mechanisms arranged one on each of opposed sides of said ingot and stool, each of said mechanisms including a shoe arranged for movement into engagement with the stool and away from said stool, reversible drive means operable to carry the shoe into said positions, a pad arranged for movement into engagement with the ingot and away from said ingot, re-

I versible drive means operable to carry the pad into said positions, a toggle-link assembly connecting said shoe and pad, reversible drive means operable to actuate the toggle-link assembly to move the pad toward and away from the shoe, reversible drive means operable to raise and lower the shoe, toggle-link assembly and pad as a unit, a source of energy common to all of said drive means, and selective control means for said drive means.

3. Apparatus for breaking a stuck ingot loose from I its stool, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a

pair of like mechanisms operable to engage the ingot and lngot stool on opposite sides thereof, each of said mechanisms comprising a shoe, a motor operable to carry said shoe into firm engagement with the stool, a pad, a motor operable to carry said pad into firm engagement with the ingot, means on the pad to embed in said ingot, and a motor operable to force the pad and engaged ingot in a direction to lift the ingot from the stool, said last named means including a toggle-link assembly connecting the shoe and pad.

4. An apparatus for breaking a stuck ingot loose from the stool upon which it is seated comprising stool engaging means, ingot engaging means, said ingot engaging means being spaced above said stool engaging means, articulated means connecting the ingot engaging means and the stool engaging means, and means to move and hold said ingot engaging means and said stool engaging means tightly against the stool and ingot respectively, and means to move said articulated means in a direction to move the ingot engaging means relative to the stool engaging means and in opposed directions.

5. In apparatus for breaking a stuck ingot loose from an ingot stool upon which it is seated, a pair of like mechanisms between which the stool and ingot are positioned, said mechanisms each comprising a shoe to engage the stool and a pad to engage the ingot, a toggle-link assembly connecting said shoe and pad, a first power means mounting said shoe and operable to move the shoe into and out of engagement with the stool, a second power means mounting said pad and operable to move the pad toward and away from the ingot, control means operable to actuate said power means to move the shoe and the pad into tight engagement with the stool and ingot respectively, a third power means operably connected to said toggle-link assembly, control means operable to actuate said third power means to actuate the toggle-link assembly and move the pad away from the shoe for breaking the ingot loose from the stool, all of said control means being operable to reverse the operation of the said power means for releasing said togglelink assembly and for moving the shoe, toggle-link assembly and pad away from the stool and ingot, and a fourth power means operable to raise and lower the shoe, toggle-link assembly and pad as a unit relative to their stool and ingot engaging positions when they are positioned away from the stool and ingot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

